Race stewards at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix handed Michael Schumacher of Mercedes a 20-second penalty on Sunday for an illegal overtaking move on Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.
The seven-time world champion originally claimed sixth spot in a race won by Red Bull’s Mark Webber when he passed Alonso on the final corner in Sunday’s race on the street circuit in Monte Carlo.
However, the German carried out the manoeuvre after the safety car went into the pits on the final lap.
Article 40.13 of the Formula 1 sporting regulation states: “If the race ends while the safety car is deployed it will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking.”
Although Schumacher said he got the all-clear from his team to continue racing again and didn’t believe he had broken any rules, he was given the time penalty instead of a drive-through penalty as the illegal overtaking move occurred in the last five laps.
